Chrysanthemum plant

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant known by the cultivar name Pert having flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; dark yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 70 to 90 mm. at maturity; uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; short plant height when grown as a pinched spray pot, and semi-spreading branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name Pert.

Pert is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with daisy capitulum type, withyellow ray floret color, with eight week flowering response, and withthe ability to produce commercially acceptable quality in year round potmum programs. Such traits in combination were not present in previouslyavailable commercial cultivars.

Pert was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding programin Barberton, Ohio in 1977. The female parent was an unnamed yellowdaisy seedling (#76025030) originated from a hybridization of #75026002(unnamed seedling) and Dixie, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,655.The male parent of Pert was an unnamed yellow daisy seedling (#70363069)originated from a hybridization of Dramatic, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 3,189, and Bonnie Jean (unpatented; commercially available).

Pert was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated parentage by William E. Duffett on Aug. 10, 1978in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Pert was accomplished whenvegatative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in November,1978 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by Jack M. Meek.Continued asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings for evaluativetests in flowering and stock programs in conjunction with horticulturalexamination of selected units initiated Feb. 21, 1979 has demonstratedthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Pert isfirmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

Pert has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and daylength. The followingobservations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown inSalinas, Calif., under greenhouse conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Pert which in combination distinguish thischrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) flat capitulum form;

(2) daisy capitulum type;

(3) dark yellow ray floret color;

(4) yellow-green (immature) to yellow (mature) disc floret color;

(5) diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 70 to 90 mm. atmaturity;

(6) uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days;

(7) short plant height (requiring 2-3 long day weeks prior to pinch andshort days, and one application 2500 ppm B-9 SP 14 to 21 days after thebeginning of short days to attain a flowered plant height of 30 to 45cm.); and

(8) semi-spreading branching pattern.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Pert, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a color photographof a flowering plant of Pert. Sheet 2 is a black and white photographshowing three views of the inflorescence of Pert. Sheet 3 is a black andwhite photograph showing the foliage of Pert at three stages of growth.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar in comparison to Pert is Ritz, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 3,868. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certaincharacteristics of Pert to those same characteristics of Ritz. Ingeneral comparison to Ritz, Pert has more spreading branching pattern,larger diameter across face of capitulum, and shorter flowering responseperiod. The ray floret color, capitulum form, capitulum type, and plantheight of Pert are similar to those same characteristics of Ritz.

In the following description color references are made to A Limit ColorCascade by the Munsell Company, 1972 edition. The color values weredetermined between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. on Mar. 28, 1980 under 100foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Pert.

Commerical.--Pinched daisy spray pot.

I. INFLORESCENCE (See sheets 1 and 2)

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--70 to 90 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

General tonality from a distance of 3 meters.--27-4 to 27-3.

Color (abaxial).--25-6 to 25-5.

Color (adaxial).--25-5 to 25-4.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--Approximately 28-5.

Color (immature).--Approximately 23-10.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; scant to few; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

II. PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Short.

Branching pattern.--Semi-spreading.

B. Foliage (See sheet 3):

Color (abaxial).--Approximately 20-15.

Color (adaxial).--Approximately 20-15 overlaid with white.

Shape.--Moderately lobed and slightly serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF PERT AND RITZ                                                   ______________________________________                                                             CAPITULUM                                                         RAY FLORET  FORM AND    BRANCHING                                    CULTIVAR COLOR       TYPE        PATTERN                                      ______________________________________                                        Pert     Dark        flat daisy  semi-                                                 Yellow                  spreading                                    Ritz     Dark        flat daisy  semi-                                                 Yellow                  upright                                      ______________________________________                                                 DIAMETER                FLOWERING                                             ACROSS FACE   PLANT     RESPONSE                                     CULTIVAR OF CAPITULUM  HEIGHT    PERIOD                                       ______________________________________                                        Pert     70 to 90 mm.  short     8 week                                       Ritz     65 to 75 mm.  short     9 week                                       ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS PINCHED                                   SPRAY POTS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA.                                        

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium,Ramat., plant known by the cultivar name Pert, as described andillustrated, and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by thecombined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type;dark yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum rangingfrom 70 to 90 mm. at maturity; uniform eight week photoperiodicflowering response to short days; short plant height when grown as apinched spray pot, and semi-spreading branching pattern.